Cabinet having an electrically operated closure



J. DE ROSE April 14, 1964 CABINET HAVING AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATEDCLOSURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1962 v JAMES DE Rosa ATTORNEYSApril 14, 1964 DE ROSE 3,129,040

CABINET HAVING AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED CLOSURE 0O 1] ZWZ /WMDWATTORNEYS A ril 14, 1964 J. DE ROSE 3,129,040

CABINET HAVING AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED CLOSURE ATTORNEYS April 14, 19645 055 3,129,040

CABINET HAVING AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED CLOSURE Filed Oct. 19, 1962 4Sheets-Sheet 4 1 i a 00 Q "In INVENTOR. -JAME5 DizEosE ATTORN EYS UnitedStates Patent 3,129,040 CABINET HAVING AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED CLQSUREJames De Rose, 1846 S. Euclid Ave., Berwyn, Ill. Fiied Oct. 19, 1962,Ser. No. 231,704 Claims. ca. 312-223) This invention relates to a novelcabinet having a flexible, slatted closure for its opening, the slats ofthe closure extending between chains which are electrically driven foropening and closing the door.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a moreefficient, practical, easily operated and relatively inexpensive cabinetand door assembly of the kind indicated, wherein the chains workprotectively in internal channels in the cabinet so as to avoid contactswith objects contained in the cabinet, and with which different types ofavailable sprocket chains and slats of different forms and materials,such as wood, metal, and plastic are usable, and the cabinet is adaptedto be constructed of nonmetallic panels secured to metal channel forms,at the vertical corners of the cabinet, such as economical aluminumchannel forms.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an assembly of thecharacter indicated above, wherein a reversible electric motor isoperatively connected, by ratchet means, to a drive shaft havingsprocket wheels, over which the chains are trained, an externallyaccessible push-button switch in circuit with the motor, and a motorreversing switch which is arranged to be contacted and operated by theclosure, as the closure moves beyond its open position, whereby theclosure can be continuously operated from closed to open position andfrom open position to closed position, as long as the push-button switchis held closed, and whereby the movement of the closure in eitherdirection can be arrested by releasing the push-button switch.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in an assembly ofthe character indicated, of shock-absorbing chain-tightner meansassociated with idler sprocket wheels related to the individual chains,whereby, in the event that either or both of the chains become jammed,breakage of chains is eliminated.

A still further object of the invention is the provision, in an assemblyof the character indicated above, of ratchet means which is arranged tooperate to provide continuous lost motion between the drive shaft andthe motor, in the event that movements of the closure be blocked,together with manual means on the closure for operating the colsure insuch event.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form ofthe invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a cabinet and closure assembly of thepresent invention, showing the front opening of the cabinet closed bythe closure;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on the line 22of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a contracted vertical longitudinal section taken on the line3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view like FIGURE 2, showing the closure in open position;

FIGURE 5 is a contracted horizontal section taken on the line 55 ofFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view, portions beingbroken away and in section, showing the drive shaft and its ratchettingdrive sprocket wheel relative to a driven sprocket wheel and a chain;

FIGURE 7 is a further enlarged vertical transverse sec- 3,129,040Patented Apr. 14, 1964 tion taken through the drive shaft, at one end ofthe ratchetting drive sprocket wheel, showing two-way springpressedpawls engaged in ratchet grooves thereof;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;and,

FIGURE 9 is a wiring diagram of the motor circuit.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designatelike parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 designates arectangular cabinet, such as a kitchen cabinet or other cabinet, havinga bottom wall 12, upstanding side walls 14, a top wall 16, anabbreviated back wall 18, extending downwardly from the top wall 16, anda rectangular front opening 20. The front opening 2%) is defined by apendant flange 22, on the top wall 16, an upstanding flange 24, on thebottom wall 12, and vertical trim strips 26 on and extending inwardlyfrom the side walls 14. The abbreviated back wall 18 of the cabinetabuts and is secured, as indicated at 28, to a room wall W, which servesas a closure for the otherwise open back of the cabinet 10. The abovementioned walls of the cabinet can be of non-metallic material, such asplywood.

Forward, rearwardly facing vertical channels 30, of such as aluminum,are suitably fixed to the inner surfaces of the cabinet side walls 14,at points spaced inwardly from the trim strips 26, and their webs 32 arespaced, at their upper and lower ends, from the top wall 16 and thebottom wall 12 of the cabinet, respectively. Horizontal chain supportplates 34 are fixed to and extend rearwardly, along the inner surfacesof the side walls, from the forward channels 38, on a level above theupper ends of their webs 32, the plates 34 being fixed, at their rearends, to forwardly facing rear vertical channels 36, which are suitablyfixed to the inner surfaces of the cabinet side walls 14, at locationsspaced forwardly from the back wall 18. The webs 38 of the rear channels36 are spaced, at their upper and lower ends, from the top wall 16 andthe bottom 12, respectively, of the cabinet.

Laterally inwardly facing vertical channels 40 are located between therear channels 36 and the back wall 18, and have their webs 42 suitablyfixed to the inner surfaces of the side walls 14. The channels 40 haveforward side walls 44 which abut and are suitably fixed to the rearsurfaces of the webs 38 of the rear channels 36, and rear side walls 46which are flush with the rear edges of the cabinet side walls 14, andbear against the room wall W, in the space between the back wall 18 andthe bottom wall 12 thereof. Upper and lower chain passing openings 48and 50, respectively, are provided in the forward side walls 44 of thechannels 40.

Forward upper and lower idler sprocket wheels 52 and 54, are journaledacross the forward channels 30, at the upper and lower ends thereof,respectively. A horizontal longitudinal drive shaft 56, on a level withthe upper for- Ward idler sprocket wheels 52, is journaled, at its ends,through the upper parts of the rear channels 36, and has fixed thereon,within the rear channels 36, upper driven sprocket wheels 58 of the samediameter as the sprocket wheels 52. Lower idler sprocket wheels 60 ofthe same diameter as the other sprocket wheels, are mounted within thelower parts of the rear channels 36, in line with the driven sprocketwheels 58.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the lower rear idler sprocket wheels 68 arejournaled in downwardly directed forks 62, having fixed upstanding stems64 thereon, which work through vertically spaced, forwardly extendingapertured upper and lower brackets 66 and 68, respectively, which aresuitably fixed to the webs 38 of the rear channels 36. The stems 64 havefixed collars 70, spaced between the brackets 66 and 68, andchain-tightening and shockabsorbing coil springs 72 are circumposed onthe stems and compressed between the collars 70 and the upper brackets66, whereby the sprocket wheels 60 are biased downwardly, for tighteningendless sprocket chains 74 which are trained around all of the sprocketwheels at each side wall 14 of the cabinet 10. The sprocket chains 74are enclosed protectively, within the forward and rear channels and 36,respectively, and the upper flights of the chains bear upon the supportplates 34. It is obvious that the spring-pressed idler sprocket wheelsare capable of yielding, in the event of jamming of the chains 74, torelieve strains thereon and prevent damage thereof and to the flexibleclosure 76, which is fixed to the chains.

The drive shaft 56 is driven by a reversible electric motor M, which issuitably mounted within the cabinet 10, as on a bracket 7 8 fixed to theupper part of the inner side wall of one of the rear channels 36, on alevel below the drive shaft. The motor M has, on its shaft 80, a drivesprocket wheel 82, around which a sprocket chain 84 is trained, which istrained also around a ratchetting sprocket wheel assembly 36, on thedrive shaft 56.

The ratchetting sprocket wheel assembly 86, as shown in FIGURES 6 to 8,can comprise a preferably solid ratchet pawl-carrying cylinder 88,having an axial bore receiving the drive shaft 56, and having a crosspin 92 anchoring the cylinder to the drive shaft. The cylinder 88 isprovided, on one end thereof, with an enlarged diameter annular shoulder94. At a point spaced from the shoulder 94, the cylinder 88 is formedwith a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced radial bores 96,opening to the axial bore 90, and to spring recesses 98 formed in thedrive shaft 56. Coil springs 100 in the bores 96 have their inner endsengaged in the recesses 98 and their outer ends engaged with the innerends of two-way cylindrical pawls 102. The pawls 102 slide in the radialbores 96 and have rounded outer ends 104.

The assembly 86 further comprises a sprocket wheel 106, having a tubularhub 108, larger in internal diameter than the cylinder 88, and formed,in the inner surface, with equally circumferentially spaced,longitudinal ratchet grooves 110. The grooves 110, as shown in FIG- URE7, are V-shaped, and their openings are wider than the rounded ends 104of the pawls 102, and the material of the hub 108, between adjacentratchet grooves, is rounded, as indicated at 112, to provide smoothtransit of the pawls between adjacent ratchet grooves. The sprocketwheel hub 108 is slidably journaled on the cylinder 88 by 4 means of aninternal annulus 114, at the end of the hub adjacent to the cylindershoulder 94, and which can have stop engagement with the shoulder.Sprocket teeth 116 surround the hub 108 at the same end of the hub asthe annulus 114, around which the drive chain 84 is trained.

In operation, when the motor M is energized, by means of an externalswitch 118, preferably a foot switch mounted on the cabinet bottom wall12, at the open front of the cabinet 10, the sprocket wheel 106 isrotated in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIGURES 2 and 6,whereby the chains 74 are moved in the same direction, for moving theclosure 76 in the same direction, so as to elevate the closure 76 out ofclosing relation to the open front of the cabinet 10, move the samerearwardly along the support plates 34, and downwardly within the rearchannels 36, as the switch 118 is held closed. Should either the chains74 or the closure 76 become jammed or blocked, for any reason, thesprocket wheel 106 over-runs the cylinder 88 and the drive shaft 56, dueto the ratcheting of the ratchet grooves over the pawls 102, so that thestrain otherwise exerted by the motor M on the chains 74 is relieved anddamage prevented, until the switch 118 can be opened. An external bailhandle 120 can be provided at the lower end of the closure 76, formanually moving the closure and the chains 74 for freeing the block orjam, or for moving the closure while the motor M is deenergized.

A motor reversing switch 122 is suitably mounted on the flange 44 of theleft hand channel 42, near to and spaced above the cabinet bottom wall12, and has a vertical plunger rod 124 which is located between twospaced laterally inwardly extending fingers 125 on the related chain 74.When the motor switch 118 is held continuously closed, the closure 76will first be operated to open position, and moves downwardly in therear channels 36, and the upper one of the fingers 125 strikes the upperend of the plunger switch 124 of the reversing switch 122, so that themotor M is stopped and is reversed and moves the closure 76 down to itsclosed position, whereat the closure is immediately moved to its openposition, and these operations of the closure continue, as long as themotor switch 118 is held closed. As the closure reaches closed positionthe lower finger strikes the lower end of the plunger rod 124, so thatthe motor is stopped and reversed so that it operates the closure toopen position. The closure can be stopped in any desired position, byopening the switch 118 at the right moment.

The closure '7 6 comprises narrow slats 126, of any suitable material,including wood, plastics, and metal, and preferably having rearwardlyextending lateral flanges 128, along their side edges. The slats 126have V-shapcd ears 130, which extend rearwardly therefrom and aresuitably journaled, as indicated at 130, to intermediate parts of thelinks 132. of the chains 74, the links being pivoted, at their ends, toadjacent links of the chains. The slats 126 are dimensioned in width, sothat, when the closure 76 closes the front opening of the cabinet 10,the flanges 123 of the slats engage, and spaces between adjacent slatsare eliminated, as shown in FIGURE 2. The trip strips 26 overlie theside edges of the closure 76 and cover the spaces between the side edgesof the closure and the side walls 14 of the cabinet 10, when the closureis in its closed position. The cabinet 10 can be provided with one ormore interior shelves 134, positioned so that or provided with openingswhich provide clearance for the described channels and chains.

As shown in FIGURE 9, the reversing switch 122 comprises the plunger rod124, which carries spaced contactors 127 and 129 which are adapted tobridge pairs of contacts 131 and 133, at different times. The motorswitch 113 has a spring-retracted contactor 135 for bridging contacts137 and 139. The contact 137 is connected by a wire 141 to a wire 143which is connected to one side 145 of a current source having anotherside 147.

The contact 139 of the motor switch 118 is connected by a wire 149 toone of the reversing switch contacts 131 and to one side of the winding151 of a first electromagnetic switch 153, the other side of thiswinding being connected by a wire 155 with one of the motor switchcontacts 133. The other reversing switch contact 131 is connected by awire 157 with one side of the winding 159 of a second electromagneticswitch 161. The other reversing switch contact 133 is connected by awire 163 to a wire 165 which is connected to the other side of thewinding 159 of the second magnetic switch 161.

The first magnetic switch has two contactors 167 and 169, the wire 165being connected to a contact 171 for the contactor 169, the contactor167 having a contact 173 to which the wire 143 is connected, andcontactor 169 having a contact 175 to which the wire 165 is connected.

The second magnetic switch 161 has contactors 177 and 179, the wire 143being connected to a contact 181 for the contactor 179. A contact 183for the other contactor 179 is connected by a wire 185 to the other side147 of the current source. The side 147 is connected to the wire 165.

A wire 187 connects the contactors 167 and 179 of the first and secondmagnetic switches, and the contactors 169 and 177 are connected by wires189 and 191, respectively, to opposite sides of the motor M. A wire 193connects the magnetic switch contactors 167 and 179, and a wire 195leads from the wire 187 to the third lead of the motor M.

In operation, the motor switch 118 being closed, and the contactor 127of the reversing switch 122 bridging the contacts 131, due to contact ofa chain finger 125 with the related end of the plunger rod 124, thewinding 151 of the first magnetic switch 153 is energized, so that itscontactors 169 and 167 engage their contacts 175 and 173, therebyclosing a circuit to operate the motor M in one direction, as foropening the closure 76. When the other finger 125 reaches and engagesthe other end of the plunger rod 124 of the reversing switch 122, thecontactor 127 is disengaged from the contacts 131, and the contactor 129engaged with the contacts 133, whereby the motor M is stopped throughdisengagement of the contactors 167 and 169 of the first magnetic switch153, from their contacts 175 and 173, and immediately reversed, so as tomove the closure 76 to open position, by reason of the energization ofthe winding 159 of the second magnetic switch 161 and the engagements ofits contactors 177 and 179 with the related contacts 181 and 183.Holding the motor switch 118 closed produces continual closing andopening of the closure 76.

Although there has been shown and described a preferred form of theinvention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarilyconfined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of andin the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated asbeing within the scope of the invention as defined by the claimsappended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A cabinet having an open front, a bottom wall, side walls, a topwall, and a back wall, upper and lower forward idler sprocket wheelsjournaled in the cabinet at its side walls and spaced from its top andbottom walls adjacent to the front opening, upper rear driven sprocketwheels journaled in the cabinet at its side walls and spaced from itsback wall and the top and bottom walls, lower rear sprocket wheelsjournaled in the cabinet at its side walls and spaced above its bottomwall adjacent to its back wall, endless chains trained around thesprocket wheels at the cabinet side walls, a closure shorter than andextending between and along the chains, said closure comprisinglaterally adjacent slats extending between and pivoted on links of thechains, said closure being dimensioned to close the front opening of thecabinet, and means for moving the chains in opposite directions forplacing the closure across the opening and for removing the closure fromthe opening, rearwardly-facing vertical forward channels fixed to theinner surfaces of the cabinet sidewalls within which said forward upperand lower sprocket wheels are mounted, and forwardly-facing verticalrear channels fixed to the inner surfaces of the cabinet sidewallswithin which said upper and lower rear sprocket wheels are mounted, thechains being protective- -ly enclosed by said channels.

2. The cabinet according to claim 1 which includes in additionhorizontal support plates extending between and fixed to the forward andrearward channels at their upper ends upon which the chains slide.

3. A cabinet having an open front, a bottom wall, side walls, a topwall, and a back wall, upper and lower forward idler sprocket wheelsjournaled in the cabinet at its side walls and spaced from its top andbottom walls adjacent to the front opening, upper rear driven sprocketwheels journaled in the cabinet at its side walls and spaced from itsback wall and the top and bottom walls, lower rear sprocket wheelsjournaled in the cabinet at its side walls and spaced above its bottomwall adjacent to its back wall, endless chains trained around thesprocket wheels at the cabinet side walls, a closure shorter than andextending between and along the chains, said closure comprisinglaterally adjacent slats extending between and pivoted on links of thechains, said closure being dimensioned to close the front opening of thecabinet, and means for moving the chains in opposite directions forplacing the closure across the opening and for removing the closure fromthe opening, said means comprising a drive shaft extending between andfixed to the upper rear driven sprocket wheels, an electric motormounted within the cabinet, operating means connected between the motorand the drive shaft, and a motor switch in circuit with the motor andmounted on the cabinet adjacent its front opening, rearwardly facingvertical forward channels fixed to the inner surfaces of the cabinetside walls within which said forward upper and lower sprocket wheels aremounted, the chains being protectively enclosed by said channels,forwardly facing vertical rear channels fixed to the inner surfaces ofthe cabinet side walls within which said upper and lower rear sprocketwheels are mounted, said rear channels protectively enclosing thechains, and horizontal support plates extending between and fixed to theforward and rear channels at their upper ends upon which the chainsslide.

4. A cabinet having an open front, a bottom wall, side walls, a topwall, and a back wall, upper and lower forward idler sprocket wheelsjournaled in the cabinet at its side walls and spaced from its top andbottom walls adjacent to the front opening, upper rear driven sprocketwheels journaled in the cabinet at its side walls and spaced from itsback wall and the top and bottom walls, lower rear sprocket wheelsjournaled in the cabinet at its side walls and spaced above its bottomwall adjacent to its back wall, endless chains trained around thesprocket wheels at the cabinet side walls, a closure shorter than andextending between and along the chains, said closure comprisinglaterally adjacent slats extending between and pivoted on links of thechains, said closure being dimensioned to close the front opening of thecabinet, and means for moving the chains in opposite directions forplacing the closure across the opening and for removing the closure fromthe opening, said means comprising a drive shaft extending between andfixed to the upper rear driven sprocket wheels, an electric motormounted within the cabinet, operating means connected between the motorand the drive shaft, and a motor switch in circuit with the motor andmounted on the cabinet adjacent its front opening, rearwardly facingvertical forward channels fixed to the inner surfaces of the cabinetside walls within which said forward upper and lower sprocket wheels aremounted, the chains being protectively enclosed by said channels,forwardly facing vertical rear channels fixed to the inner surfaces ofthe cabinet side walls within which said upper and lower rear sprocketwheels are mounted, said rear channels protectively enclosing thechains, and horizontal support plates extending between and fixed to theforward and rear channels at their upper ends upon which the chainsslide, said lower rear sprocket wheels being downwardly spring-pressedfor tightening the chains.

5. A cabinet having an open front, a bottom wall, side walls, a topwall, and a back wall, upper and lower forward idler sprocket wheelsjournaled in the cabinet at its side walls and spaced from its top andbottom walls adjacent to the front opening, upper rear driven sprocketwheels journaled in the cabinet at its side walls and spaced from itsback wall and the top and bottom walls, lower rear sprocket wheelsjournaled in the cabinet at its side walls and spaced above its bottomwall adjacent to its back wall, endless chains trained around thesprocket wheels at the cabinet side walls, a closure shorter than andextending between and along the chains, said closure comprisinglaterally adjacent slats extending between and pivoted on links of thechains, said closure being dimensioned to close the front opening of thecabinet, and means for moving the chains in opposite directions forplacing the closure across the opening and for removing the closure fromthe opening, said means comprising a drive shaft extending between andfixed to the upper rear driven sprocket wheels, an electric motormounted within the cabinet, operating means connected between the motorand the drive shaft, and a motor switch in circuit with the motor andmounted on the cabinet adjacent its front opening, rearwardly facingvertical forward channels fixed to the inner surfaces of the cabinetside walls within which said forward upper and lower sprocket wheels aremounted, the chains being protectively enclosed by said channels,forwardly facing vertical rear channels fixed to the inner surfaces ofthe cabinet side walls within which said upper and lower rear sprocketwheels are mounted, said rear channels protectively enclosing thechains, and horizontal support plates extending between and fixed to theforward and rear channels at their upper ends upon which the chainsslide, said cabinet walls comprising panels fixed to the channels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS LaceyAug. 6, 1918 Francke Dec. 14, 1926 Curtis Mar. 18, 1952 Belew Mar. 18,1952 Potter Oct. 16, 1956 Lawick Jan. 5, 1960 Timmons Aug. 29, 1961

1. A CABINET HAVING AN OPEN FRONT, A BOTTOM WALL, SIDE WALLS, A TOPWALL, AND A BACK WALL, UPPER AND LOWER FORWARD IDLER SPROCKET WHEELSJOURNALED IN THE CABINET AT ITS SIDE WALLS AND SPACED FROM ITS TOP ANDBOTTOM WALLS ADJACENT TO THE FRONT OPENING, UPPER REAR DRIVEN SPROCKETWHEELS JOURNALED IN THE CABINET AT ITS SIDE WALLS AND SPACED FROM ITSBACK WALL AND THE TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS, LOWER REAR SPROCKET WHEELSJOURNALED IN THE CABINET AT ITS SIDE WALLS AND SPACED ABOVE ITS BOTTOMWALL ADJACENT TO ITS BACK WALL, ENDLESS CHAINS TRAINED AROUND THESPROCKET WHEELS AT THE CABINET SIDE WALLS, A CLOSURE SHORTER THAN ANDEXTENDING BETWEEN AND ALONG THE CHAINS, SAID CLOSURE COMPRISINGLATERALLY ADJACENT SLATS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND PIVOTED ON LINKS OF THECHAINS, SAID CLOSURE BEING DIMENSIONED TO CLOSE THE FRONT OPENING OF THECABINET, AND MEANS FOR MOVING THE CHAINS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FORPLACING THE CLOSURE ACROSS THE OPENING AND FOR REMOVING THE CLOSURE FROMTHE OPENING, REARWARDLY-FACING VERTICAL FORWARD CHANNELS FIXED TO THEINNER SURFACES OF THE CABINET SIDEWALLS WITHIN WHICH SAID FORWARD UPPERAND LOWER SPROCKET WHEELS ARE MOUNTED, AND FORWARDLY-FACING VERTICALREAR CHANNELS FIXED TO THE INNER SURFACES OF THE CABINET SIDEWALLSWITHIN WHICH SAID UPPER AND LOWER REAR SPROCKET WHEELS ARE MOUNTED, THECHAINS BEING PROTECTIVELY ENCLOSED BY SAID CHANNELS.